Sheriff Arpaio gets finders fee for new headquarters

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio swears in 56 new members of his Illegal Immigration Posse, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010 in Phoenix. Sheriff Joe has sworn in nearly 3,000 posse members since becoming sheriff in 1993. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Maricopa County is giving Joe Arpaio’s office $360,000 to help find new office space for his executive team and other members of the department.

The Arizona Republic reports the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to spend the money on two outside consultants to help relocate about 100 command and clerical employees who fill two floors of the downtown Phoenix Wells Fargo building.

The bank says it needs the space.

Past plans to move the sheriff to an old Phoenix IRS building fell apart. At the time, County Manager David Smith said the Sheriff’s Office wasn’t cooperating.

The Sheriff’s Office business director says the hang-up involved expensive improvements to old electrical, mechanical and air conditioning systems.